Oliver murder effect: Indians in Congo face wrath

New Delhi, May 27: Days after Congolese student Masonda Ketada Oliver was attacked in Delhi, some Indian shops and establishments were attacked in the African country.

The Indian embassy in Kinshasa, the Congolese capital, has appealed to the Indian nationals to "keep a low profile" for the next couple of days as the authorities believed the attack came in retaliation to the lynching of the student.

Two Indians were also injured in gunshot firing during the attack.

The Indian embassy said in a statement that the police chief in Kinshasa, General Jean De Dieu Oleko, has assured to protect the Indians residing in Congo. It also said police pesonnel were deployed in the commecial areas and the local authorities were trying to defuse the situation. The Indian nationals were told to avoid confrontation and stay calm.

Hundreds of protesters allegedly forced Indian shopkeepers in the country to keep their businesses shut and attacked their property seeking proper action in Oliver's murder.

The embassy also regretted the killing of Oliver on behalf of the Indian government and told the Congolese authorities that steps were being taken to arrest the culprits of the incident and prosecute them. It also said that one of the offenders have been arrested.

The statement also said that the crime was "based on impulse without any planning or motive".

Olivier was killed by some men in Vasant Kunj area of South Delhi following an altercation over hiring of an autorickshaw.

African envoys in India expressed their anguish over repeated attacks on African nationals on the latter's soil and also decided to boycott the Africa Day celebrations on May 25.

Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and her junior minister VK Singh then swung into action to pacify the ire.

Oneindia News